Over 50,000 votes! So close were the polls this year! In
nearly every category the winner's margin was less than 2 percent!. I'd like to
think it was due to the sheer quality of Southern Soul Blues music released in
2006...and it was. There were many releases that were worthy of nominations but
didn't make the cut because of scant distribution . I think it's safe to say
this was one of the biggest years for the much maligned genre. Nevertheless,
mainstream radio, mainstream print & retail are still behind on what's going on
with this music. (Props though to Living Blues for publishing
Funky Larry Jones' Top 10 singles chart this past year). Bootleggers continue to
ruin the business...scumbags one and all. But all the DJs who play Southern Soul
mom & pop shops, labels, websites and media people like Jerry "Boogie" Mason,
Funky Larry Jones, Gary 'G Ball' Ball, E Norman (and many others- sorry to those
not listed) have stepped up their efforts in getting this music in the fans ears
and hands. "It takes a nation of millions" to hold it back...

There's a lot of talk about the term "Southern Soul". It's
really just good ol' Soul Music period. It's called "Southern" because any fool
knows the Deep South is where Soul music was born. I prefer to call the music
"Deep Soul, Rhythm & Blues", which covers it all. "Southern Soul" incorporates
Blues, Funk, classic R & B, Contemporary R & B etc... but is distinguished from
mainstream "R & B" like R. Kelly & Mary J. Blige. Don't ask me why...it just is.

There was just no stopping Billy 'Soul' Bonds as his "Scat
Cat...Here Kitty Kitty" (Waldoxy) narrowly trumped runner up Kenne Wayne's
"If The Shoe Was On The Other Foot" (Goodtime) for it's second award!

William Bell was nominated for three awards and
nearly won all three but instead he narrowly edged out runner-up Willie Clayton
for this award. The Bell is back! He was also a winner in 2005 for his
duet with Jeff Floyd. Winner: William Bell for "New Lease On Life" (Wilbe).
Other nominees were Kenne' Wayne, Omar Cunningham, Gregg A. Smith, Mel Waiters,
Lebrado, Wendell B., Carl Sims, Patrick Green, O.B. Buchana & Sir Charles Jones.

This must have been difficult for voters with so
many great new artists to choose from. Joy, Coco, Ms. Jody, Bertha Payne, Roni,
Ms. Peaches, Miz B, Karen Wolfe, Renea Mitchell and BEST NEW FEMALE ARTIST
Lacee' Runner-up: Roni.

Man oh man oh man. Tough choices. The JEA Music
producer team of runners up James Alexander, Sam Fallie & Larry Dodson brought
us music by the Bar Kays, J. Blackfoot, Lacee' & more. Bruce Billups produced
Theodis Ealey's "Francine" and Lebrado. Legendary producer henry Stone was back
to produce Gwen McCrae. Percy T. Firends, Simeo Overall, Morris J, Tommy Couch
Jr., John Ward, Rue Davis & Vernon Webster all produced great music as well but
Willie Clayton & Vick Allen would not be denied. Not only was there
Clayton & Allen's own music together but separately they also had a hand in
projects by Mel Waiters, Omar Cunningham & David Sea.

The BLUES CRITIC staff
pick...

SOUTHERN SOUL ARTIST OF THE
YEAR

Willie Clayton

In 2006 Willie Clayton had two Top 5 Southern
Soul hits ("I'm Going Crazy" & "Boom Boom Boom"), his CD "Gifted" was
voted "Best Southern Soul/R & B Album" of the year, made the Billboard Top 100 R
& B/Hip Hop Albums chart,. he produced the Omar Cunningham CD "Worth The Wait",
he toured, he made a video, he ruled.